Blocking challan amounts to contempt: Former Secretary SCBA

Srinagar, Apr 16 (KNS): The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide police protection to Kathua victim’s family members and their lawyers.
Sharing details of today’s hearing, Former Secretary Supreme Court (SC) Bar Association, Advocate Ashok Arora told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the apex court has directed the JK government to provide police protection to the victim family s well the lawyers who are pleading the case of a Kathua minor girl, Asifa.
Earlier, Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat had said that she is being threatened for taking up the case. The victim’s father had also asked the apex court for adequate security for family members of the victim, the local Advocate Rajawat and her family members and Advocate Talib Hussain.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud has fixed the next date of hearing on April 27.
Asifa was raped and killed in Kathua in January this year while as the eight men accused in the incident have been arrested.
The government has also assured that those who are involved in the case won’t be spared.
Two Ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who were serving in the current collation government have also quit.
Besides, the SC also today asked the lawyers not to obstruct the police in the investigation in Kathua incident.
Adv Ashok Arora told KNS that the blocking of challan by the lawyers in Kathua amounts to contempt. “Authorities should take action against those lawyers who tried to prevent Crime Branch from filing the charge sheet,” former Secretary SC Bar Association told KNS.
Meanwhile, reports said that the Court has also sought J&K govt’s reply on plea to shift the trial out of the state.
It further added that during the hearing today, the victim's father expressed satisfaction with the probe so far, conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Police and opposed the plea for CBI investigation demanded by others. (KNS)